High storage shelf system for hanging goods

ABSTRACT

A storage shelf system for hanging goods, for example, a storage system for articles of clothing hanging on clothes hangers, essentially includes a hanging conveyor of the power-and-free type with trolleys traveling on rails, a storage unit, operating devices for loading and unloading the high shelf storage system, and storage rods for receiving the goods during transport and storage thereof, wherein the trolleys, the operating devices, and the high shelf storage system are equipped with supports and corresponding securing devices, such as locking pawls, locking bolts and the like, for securing the storage rods in a positively engaging manner.

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.09/141,938, filed on Aug. 27, 1998, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a storage shelf system for hanginggoods, for example, a storage system for articles of clothing hanging onclothes hangers.

2. Description of the Related Art

During production, in intermediate storage, etc., many goods aretransported in a hanging position. This is also true for articles ofclothing, for example, coats, jackets, suits, overalls, etc. These itemsare manipulated in a hanging position during manufacture, duringconveyance, in intermediate storage, in final storage and in retailstores. For transporting the articles, so-called hanging conveyorinstallations in accordance with the power-and-free system have beenfound useful. An example of such an installation is shown in DE-A 25 06587. These hanging conveyor installations can be installed on all floorsand levels of the manufacturing and storage building. For the actualstorage, special buffer lengths are provided in the hanging conveyorinstallation, wherein the buffer lengths can be coupled to the mainconveyor strand by means of switches.

It is also known in the art to transport articles of clothing in bundleson trolleys which are equipped with a support rod. An example of this isshown in DE 38 07 280 C1. The support rod is fixedly mounted on thetrolley and can be loaded and unloaded by means of fully automaticunits.

The buffer lengths in which the trolleys loaded with the clothingbundles remain until the goods are needed, are usually located in asingle plane. Consequently, they require a relatively large storagearea. However, in accordance with another commercially availablesolution, storage in two levels is possible by providing an intermediateplatform. The costs of the storage area are lowered accordingly. Astationary vertical conveyor is utilized for transporting the trolleysbetween the two planes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is the primary object of the present invention to providea storage system equipped with shelves for hanging goods, for example, astorage system for clothing, which has a very high storage capacity andsimultaneously permits direct access to the goods.

In accordance with the present invention, the high storage shelf systemfor hanging goods of the above-described type essentially includes ahanging conveyor of the power-and-free type with trolleys traveling onrails, a storage unit, operating devices for loading and unloading thehigh shelf storage system, and storage rods for receiving the goodsduring transport and storage thereof, wherein the trolleys, theoperating devices, and the high shelf storage system are equipped withsupports and corresponding securing devices, such as locking pawls,locking bolts and the like, for securing the storage rods in apositively engaging manner.

The present invention makes it possible to store hanging goods, forexample, clothing hanging on clothes hangers in high shelf storagesystems which, as is well known, have the greatest storage capacity overa given area. In this connection, it is possible to utilize the provencomponents of such a high storage shelf system, i.e., the shelvesthemselves as well as the operating devices for the shelves. The mostimportant structural elements are the movable storage rods on which thegoods remain during the transportation on the hanging conveyorinstallation and on the operating device and during the storage in thehigh storage shelf system. Because of the positively engaging supportsat the trolleys, the operating devices and the high shelf system, thestorage rods can be easily moved by means of mechanical devices. Thewell-known and proven devices for fully automatically loading andunloading the storage rods can continue to be utilized unchanged.

In accordance with an advantageous further development of the invention,the storage rods are made of pipes having a round to oval cross-section.This type of pipe has been found very useful in practice for a longperiod of time.

The storage rods may also be of pipes having a polygonal cross-section.These pipes have the advantage that the hooks of hangers rest on therods at two places, so that the hanger and the goods cannot swing aboutthe upper axis thereof.

Stoppers mounted on the storage rods prevent the goods from sliding. Inaddition, the stoppers ensure that the ends of the storage rod remainfree, so that the manipulating devices can act at those ends withoutproblems.

In accordance with a preferred development of the invention, thesupports are constructed as U-shaped or V-shaped prisms. This type ofconstruction is very simple, compensates tolerances without problems andis operationally very safe.

In accordance with a particularly simple development of the invention,the high storage shelf system is composed of posts to which the supportsare attached directly. Consequently, if at all, longitudinal struts andtransverse struts are only required for reasons of static requirements.

In accordance with a further development, the high storage shelf systemis composed of posts and transverse struts, wherein the supports areattached to the transverse struts. In this type of construction, thenumber of posts may possibly be reduced.

The development mentioned last is particularly advantageous if two ormore supports are arranged one behind the other on a storage plane. Inthat case, the supports are attached to the transverse struts.

In accordance with a further development of the invention, centeringdevices for exactly positioning the trolleys are provided in the areasof the transfer stations at the high storage shelf system. Depending onthe type of centering device, they may be driven by electric motors,pneumatic cylinders and the like.

In accordance with a preferred feature, devices for moving, positioningand/or securing the trolleys are provided in the areas of the transferstations. Suitable for this purpose are constructions which are known inprinciple in the prior art and which operate with chains, toothed belts,slides and the like.

In accordance with a further development of the invention, the operatingdevice has at least one telescopic cantilever on which is provided atleast one device for holding a storage rod, as well as side shields orprotective plates which prevent hooking of the hanging goods, and anintegrated sensor system with switches, light barriers, initiators andthe like for controlling the fine positioning of the storage rods. Sucha telescopic cantilever makes it possible to reach toward the right andtoward the left into the storage shelves from the operating device, evenwhen several supports and a storage rods are arranged one behind theother in a storage plane.

In accordance with a first embodiment, the telescopic cantileverincludes essentially a base plate which is fastened to the liftingcarriage of the operating device, a telescopic frame underneath the baseplate, a single or double telescopic pull-out at the telescopic frame, aseparately moveable transfer unit mounted on the telescopic pull-out andprovided with the devices for holding a storage rod, a drive motor forthe telescopic pull-out and a drive motor for the transfer unit. Thesingle telescopic pull-out is sufficient if the storage rods hang withthe goods in only one row. On the other hand, if the goods hang in twoor more rows one behind the other, the double telescopic pull-out isrequired.

The separately moveable transfer unit mounted on the telescopic pull-outmakes it possible to move the storage rod with the goods hanging thereonalways into the middle of the operating device where the goods have themaximum distance to the two adjacent shelves.

In accordance with a further development of the invention, a turntableis provided between the base plate and the telescopic frame, wherein theturntable is rotated by a drive motor. The turntable makes it possibleto swing the telescopic cantilever and the transfer unit toward theright or left. It is even possible to receive a storage rod with goodson one side and to turn the storage rod during the travel of theoperating device onto the other side, for example, in order to store thestorage 8 rod and goods on the other side in an empty shelf section.This accelerates the work sequence decisively.

In order to prevent the transfer unit from damaging or throwing down thegoods suspended from a storage rod when a filled storage rod is liftedout of the shelf, centering plates are fastened to the right and left ofthe transfer unit, wherein the centering plates are shaped or bent insuch a way that they form a type of funnel. The devices for holding astorage rod are provided at the centering plates, preferably at theupper edges thereof. The centering plates converge in the downwarddirection and toward one another and push the goods toward the middle ofthe storage rod and additionally secure the goods when they are moved inand out and during the travel of the operating device.

In accordance with a second embodiment, the telescopic cantilever iscomposed of a flat telescopic plate which travels over the storage rods.In that case, hook-type or scissors-type gripping members are providedas supports which grasp the storage rods from above. This embodiment hasthe advantage that the space above the storage rods is completely freeover the entire width of the rod, so that no collisions must be expectedwith goods which are not entirely correctly hanging on the storage rod.

Since operating devices for shelf systems start up with relatively highacceleration values and decelerate with relatively high decelerationvalues, the clothing bundles transported on the operating device startto swing. In order to prevent this, so that they do not collide with theshelf system or drop down, a holding and protective device isadvantageously mounted on the operating device for securing the goodsduring the travel of the operating device.

The holding and protective device includes a shutter which can be rolledup easily and, most importantly, in a space-saving manner, as well as asliding or swinging door which has few moving parts or a protective meshwhich may also be mounted fixedly in front of the end faces of thegoods. In order to increase the efficiency of the operating device, orwhen the goods are stored in several rows in order to be able todirectly reach the goods hanging in a rear row, it is recommended toprovide two or more telescopic cantilevers on the operating device.

The hanging goods may not only be articles of clothing but also, forexample, screen or wire mesh boxes. Always one wire mesh box isconnected to a support rod, if necessary through an intermediatelyarranged joint. The wire mesh boxes may be provided with a swinging doorand may have storage shelves, so that they can receive goods placed onthe storage shelves, wherein the wire mesh boxes are then stored in ahanging position in the high storage shelf system.

In accordance with a recommended feature, an additional telescopiccantilever is provided at the operating device for traveling underneaththe wire mesh box when it is placed in the storage shelf and forpreventing swinging of the wire mesh box.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of the disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, itsoperating advantages, specific objects attained by its use, referenceshould be had to the drawing and descriptive matter in which there areillustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a high storage shelf systemfor hanging goods;

FIG. 1a is a perspective view, on a larger scale, of a prismatic supportattached to a storage rod.

FIG. 2 is a side view, on a larger scale, of a hanging conveyorinstallation with trolleys;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a storage rod;

FIG. 4 is a top view of a portion of a high storage shelf system forgoods hanging on clothes hangers;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a single-row high storage shelf system forarticles of clothing;

FIG. 6 is a front view of a portion of a two-row storage shelf systemfor articles of clothing.

FIG. 7 is a side view, on a larger scale, of a transfer station withpositioning and centering device;

FIG. 7a is a perspective view of a high storage shelf system showing thetransfer station interacting with an operating device.

FIG. 8 is a hanging object in the form of a wire mesh box;

FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of an operating device with acompletely extended telescopic cantilever as it receives a storage rodwith goods;

FIGS. 10a-10 c show respectively three storage rods with round, oval,and polygonal cross-section, wherein each storage rod has threestoppers;

FIG. 11a shows a support in the form of a V-shaped prism for a polygonalstorage rod; and

FIG. 11b shows a support in the form of a U-shaped prism for a roundstorage rod;

FIGS. 12a-12 c shows details of a centering plate as used in thearrangement of FIG. 9 in three different views, wherein

FIG. 12b shows a side view,

FIG. 12a shows a front view, and

FIG. 12c shows a section according to the section line indicated FIG.12b;

FIGS. 13a-13 f shows three examples of scissors-type gripping members,one for a round (FIGS. 13a-13 b), one for an oval (FIGS. 13c-23 d), andone for a polygonal storage rod (FIGS. 13e-13 f), wherein

FIGS. 13a, 13 c, 13 e show the gripping members in the open position and

FIGS. 13b, 13 d, 13 f shows the gripping members in the closed position;

FIGS. 14a-14 f show the scissors-type gripping members of FIGS. 13a-13 fin operation, wherein the large rectangular surface on which thegripping members are supported is a protective support for the articlesof clothing suspended from the storage rod during movement;

FIGS. 15a-15 f show three examples of hook-type gripping members, onefor a round (FIGS. 15a-15 b), one for an oval (FIGS. 15c-15 d), and onefor a polygonal storage rod (FIGS. 15e-15 f), wherein

FIGS. 15a, 15 c, 15 e show the gripping members in the disengagedposition and

FIGS. 15b, 15 d, 15 f shows the gripping members in the engagedposition;

FIGS. 16a-16 f show the hook-type gripping members of FIGS. 15a-15 f inoperation, wherein the large rectangular surface on which the grippingmembers are supported is a protective support for the articles ofclothing suspended from the storage rod during movement;

FIGS. 17a-17 c show a protective device for securing the pieces ofclothing during movement in the form of a wire mesh box with swingingdoors, wherein

FIG. 17b shows the swinging doors closed and

FIG. 17c shows the swinging doors open;

FIGS. 18a-18 c show the protective mesh box with shutters wherein

FIG. 18b shows the shutters closed and

FIG. 18c shows the shutter open; and

FIGS. 19a-19 b correspond to the representation of FIG. 8, however, theswinging doors being illustrated in more detail, wherein

FIG. 19a shows the doors closed and

FIG. 19b shows the doors open.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 of the drawing is a schematic and perspective illustration of asection of a high storage shelf system for hanging goods 1, 40. Thesystem includes a high shelf or storage unit 30, for example, with fourstorage levels. The goods 1, 40 are moved in and out of the shelves bymeans of an operating device 20 which, as known in the art, travels inthe aisle between two storage units 30.

Examples of hanging goods are articles of clothing 1 which hang onhangers on a storage rod 2, and wire mesh boxes 40 which will beexplained in more detail in connection with FIG. 8. The goods 1, 40 canremain on the storage rods 2 as long as necessary. The storage rod 2constitutes the stable element which facilitates handling. The storagerods can have various cross-sectional shapes such as round, oval, andpolygonal. Examples are given in FIGS. 10a-10 c, also showing stoppers3, 4 for the hanging goods provided on the storage rods 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the high shelf storage unit 30 is merelycomposed of posts 31 on which are mounted supports 33 which, in theillustrated embodiment, have the shape of V-shaped prisms (FIG. 11a).The supports can also have a U-shape (see FIG. 11b). If necessary,corresponding securing devices, such as locking pawls, locking bolts andthe like may be provided. Longitudinal struts or transverse struts arenot necessary, however, they can be provided if statically required.

FIG. 1a shows a prismatic support 33 a whose cross-section is adapted tothe storage rods 2 having oval or round cross-sections.

The operating device 20 includes a conventional undercarriage 29 onwhich is mounted a mast 21 with a lifting carriage 22. Two telescopicarms 24 are mounted on the lifting carriage 22. Provided at the ends ofthe telescopic arms 24 are supports 23 for a storage rod 2. The support23 may also be constructed as a V-shaped or U-shaped prism like thesupports 33. If necessary, corresponding securing devices, such aslocking pawls, locking bolts, may be provided.

To ensure that the goods 1, 40 do not start to swing when the operatingdevice 20 starts and stops and do not collide with the operating device20 or the high shelf storage unit 30, a holding and protective device ismounted on the lifting carriage 22. This holding and protective devicecan be composed, for example, of a protective mesh 27 mounted at the endface and lateral shutters 26 which can be rolled up and down. Forclarity's sake, the guide means for the shutters and the windingmechanism for the shutters are not shown.

FIG. 2 of the drawing shows a portion of a hanging conveyor installationby means of which the goods 1, 40 hanging on the storage rods 2 aresupplied to and removed from the operating device 20. This is done atspecial transfer stations, usually at the front ends of the storageaisles. At these locations, additional side shields or protective platesare provided, as well as an integrated sensor mechanism for controllingthe fine positioning of the carriage, as shown in FIG. 7.

Trolleys 12 of conventional construction are suspended from a travelrail 11. The trolleys 12 are provided with supports 13, for example,again in the shape of V-shaped or U-shaped prisms, in which a storagerod 2 can be placed.

FIG. 3 shows an empty storage rod 2. Stoppers 3 are provided on theupper side of the rod 2 on the left and right thereof. These stoppers 3ensure that the ends of the storage rod 2 remain free and that the goods1 do not slide off. Another stopper 4 in the middle of the storage rod 2prevents the goods 1, 40 from sliding when the storage rod 2 is onlypartially filled.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a high storage shelf system with a single-rowplacement of goods 1. FIG. 4 shows the posts 31 and the prismaticsupports 33 which are attached to the posts 31 and hold the storage rods2 in a positively-locking manner. Operating device 20.1, 20.2 travel inthe aisles between two high shelves 30.1, respectively. The operatingdevice 20.1 traveling in the lower aisle only has one lifting carriage22 which is loaded with bundles 1 of goods. The shutters 26 of theholding and protective devices 26, 27 are rolled down and thus “active”,i.e., they protect the hanging goods during transport.

The operating device 20.2 traveling in the upper aisle has two liftingcarriages 22 each provided with a pair of telescopic arms 24 for loadingand unloading the goods. In the shown illustration, the telescopic arms24 are extended in order to move storage rods 2 in or out. The shutters26 are rolled up and inactive, i.e., their protective function iscanceled momentarily.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a portion of another high storage shelfsystem. Shown are four high shelves 30.1 with the goods 1 being hung inone row and an operating device 20 in each aisle. The operating device20 traveling in the right aisle is loaded with goods 1. The holding andprotective devices 26, 27 are active, i.e., rolled down to protect thegoods.

In the operating device 20 traveling in the left aisle, the telescopiccantilever is extended in order to move a storage rod 2 loaded withgoods 1 in or out. The telescopic cantilever is composed of a flattelescopic plate 24′ which travels over the storage rods 2 and, thus,utilizes the free space between the storage rod 2 and the goods 1hanging in the next higher storage level. Hook-type (HT, see FIGS.15a-15 ff and 16 a-16 f for detail) or scissors-type (ST, see FIGS.13a-13 f and FIGS. 14a-14 f for detail) gripping members are providedunderneath the telescopic plate 24′ for gripping the storage rod 2 fromabove. The scissors-type gripping members are matched, depending on thetype of storage rod needed, to a round (FIGS. 13a-13 b), an oval (FIGS.13c-13 d), and a polygonal (FIGS. 13e-13 f) cross-section of the storagerods.

The FIGS. 13a, 13 c, 13 e show the gripping members ST in the form of ascissor mechanism, comprised of an upper member and a lower memberpivotably connected to a support and moveable toward and away from oneanother, in the open position ready to receive a storage rod 2 or afterjust releasing a storage rod 2, and FIGS. 13b, 13 d, 13 f show thegripping members ST in the closed position tightly gripping a storagerod, respectively. The hook-type gripping members HT comprises apivotable hook mechanism designed to accommodate a round (FIGS. 15a-15b), an oval (FIGS. 15c-15 d), and a polygonal storage rod (FIGS. 15e-15f), receptively. FIGS. 15a, 15 c, 15 e show the gripping members HT inthe disengaged position, ready to receive a storage rod 2 or immediatelyafter releasing a storage rod 2. FIGS. 15b, 15 d, 15 f show the grippingmembers HT engaging a round, oval or polygonal storage rod 2,respectively. FIGS. 14a-14 f show the gripping members ST mounted on aprotective plate PP of a transfer unit TU which protects the goodsduring transport, and FIGS. 16a-16 f show the hook-shaped grippingmembers also on a protective plate PP of a transfer unit TU.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a portion of a high storage shelf system withhigh shelves 30.2 in which the goods 1 are hanging in two rows, onebehind the other. Transverse struts 32 are attached to the posts 31,wherein the supports 33 for the storage rods 2 are mounted on thetransverse struts 32. The operating device 20 traveling in the aisle isprovided with a telescopic cantilever 24 which engages underneath thestorage rods 2 and has on its upper side 2 receiving means 23 for astorage rod 2 each. Accordingly, in this embodiment, two storage rods 2can be moved in and out at the same time.

FIG. 7 shows a portion of a hanging conveyor installation in the area ofa transfer station. FIG. 7 shows the rail 11 which is mounted underneatha rail carrier 14. Suspended from the rail 11 is a trolley 12 with astorage rod 2 suspended from the holding device 13, wherein a hangerwith an article of clothing 1 hangs from the storage rod 2. Provided atthe rail carrier 14 is additionally a positioning and centering devicecomprised of a pivot drive 15 and a pivot arm 16. The pivot arm 16 isconnected to the pivot drive 15 so as to be pivoted about a verticalpivot axis. The pivot arm 16 acts on the trolleys 12 arriving at thetransfer station for precisely positioning the trolley 12. The pivotdrive 15 is controlled by means of an integrated sensor mechanism,generally known in the art, in the form of switches, light barriers,magnetic initiators, or the like, not shown, for detecting the positionof the trolley. Based on the sensor signals of the sensor mechanism, thepivot drive 15 rotates the pivot arm 16 in one or the other direction tothereby push the trolley 12 until it has reached its proper position forthe transfer of goods.

FIG. 7a shows the transfer station of FIG. 7 in interaction with theoperating device 20.

FIG. 8 shows, as an example for additional hanging goods, the wire meshbox 40 which is mounted on the storage rod 2 by means of a hanger 42 anda joint 41. The wire mesh box 40 has three storage floors 43 and, thus,can receive goods, for example, cartons 45, on three levels. A swingingdoor 44 makes it possible to move the goods or cartons 45 in and out.

FIG. 9 shows a portion of an operating device 20 in the aisle betweentwo shelves 30.2 in which the goods 1,1′ hang in two rows one behind theother. A base plate 24.1 is fastened to the mast 21 of the operatingdevice 20. Provided underneath the base plate 24.1 is a turntable 24.8which is driven by a motor 24.9. Fastened underneath the turntable 24.8is a telescopic frame 24.2 on which a double telescopic pull-out 24.3 ismounted. The telescopic pull-out 24.3 is driven by means of a drivemotor 24.4.

Mounted underneath the telescopic pull-out 24.3 is a separately moveabletransfer unit 24.5 which is moved by a drive motor 24.6. A centeringplate 24.7 each is fastened at the right and left of the transfer unit24.5. These centering plates 24.7 (see FIGS. 12a-12 c for a detailedview) extend perpendicularly to the storage rod 2 and parallel to thegoods 1′ and are comprised of a vertical portion V and a bent or angledportion B such that they converge downwardly and toward one another toform a type of funnel narrowing from the storage rod in the downwarddirection for centering and supporting the goods 1,1′ hanging from thestorage rod 2. The device 23 for holding the storage rod 2 is providedat the upper edge of the centering plates 24.7.

As soon as the storage rod 2 with the goods 1′ suspended therefrom hangson the centering plates 24.7, the double telescopic pull-out 24.3 ispulled back again. Simultaneously, the separately moveable transfer unit24.5 is also moved back until the storage rod 2 with the goods 1′suspended therefrom is located in the middle of the operating device 20where it has the optimum distance from the two shelves 30.2 with thegoods 1,1′ stored therein.

A protective device for securing the pieces of clothing during movementin the form of a wire mesh box (27, 44) with swinging doors 44 is shownin FIGS. 17a-17 c. FIG. 17a shows the mesh box 27, 44 being moved by aan operating device 20 comprising an undercarriage 21, a mast 22, and alifting carriage 22 with telescoping arms 24 and supports 23. Theswinging doors 44 of the mesh box are open at one side for the mesh boxto receive groods from or unload goods onto a shelf storage unit (notshown). The detail views FIG. 17b and FIG. 17c show the swinging doorclosed and open, respectively.

FIG. 18a shows in an illustration similar to that of FIG. 17a theprotective mesh box 27, 44 a, 44 b with sliding shutters 44 a moveableon schematically illustrated guides 44 b in the open position forloading or unloading goods. FIG. 18b shows the shutters 44 a closed, andFIG. 18c shows the shutters 44 a moved along the guides 44 b into theopen position.

FIGS. 19a-19 b correspond to the representation of FIG. 8 andillustrates the swinging doors 44 in more detail, wherein FIG. 19 ashows the doors closed and FIG. 19b shows the doors open.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the inventive principles, it will beunderstood that the invention may be embodied otherwise withoutdeparting from such principles.

We claim:
 1. A high storage shelf system for hanging goods, comprising ahanging conveyor of the power-and-free type with trolleys traveling onrails, a storage unit, operating devices for loading and unloading thestorage unit, and storage rods having hanging goods suspended therefromfor transport and storage of the hanging goods, wherein the trolleystransport the storage rods to and from the operating devices, whereinthe operating devices remove the storage rods from the trolleys andtransport the storage rods to the storage unit for loading the storageunit and remove the storage rods from the storage unit and transfer thestorage rods to the trolleys for unloading the storage unit, wherein thetrolleys, the operating devices and the storage unit comprise supports.2. The storage shelf system according to claim 1, wherein the storagerods are comprised of pipes having a round or oval cross-section.
 3. Thestorage shelf system according to claim 1, wherein the storage rods arecomprised of pipes having a polygonal cross-section.
 4. The storageshelf system according to claim 1, wherein each storage rod comprises atleast one stopper for preventing sliding of the hanging goods in alongitudinal direction of the storage rod.
 5. The storage shelf systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the supports are comprised of U-shaped orV-shaped prisms.
 6. The storage shelf system according to claim 1,wherein the storage units comprise posts, wherein the supports aredirectly fastened to the posts.
 7. The storage shelf system according toclaim 1, wherein the storage unit is comprised of posts and transversestruts connecting the posts, wherein the supports are fastened to atleast one of the posts and the transverse struts.
 8. The storage shelfsystem according to claim 1, wherein two or more of the supports arearranged one behind the other on a storage level.
 9. The storage shelfsystem according to claim 1, further comprising transfer stations wherethe storage rods are transferred between the trolleys and the operatingdevices, wherein the transfer stations comprise positioning andcentering devices for precisely positioning the trolleys at the transferstations for ensuring proper transfer of the storage rods between thetrolleys and the operating devices.
 10. The storage shelf systemaccording to claim 9, wherein the positioning and centering devicescomprise devices for moving, positioning and securing the trolleys atthe transfer stations.
 11. The storage shelf system according to claim10, wherein the transfer stations comprise side shields and protectiveplates, wherein the positioning and centering devices have an integratedsensor system for controlling fine positioning of the trolleys.
 12. Thestorage shelf system according to claim 1, wherein the means for loadingand unloading of each operating device comprises at least one telescopiccantilever, and at least one device for holding one of the storage rodsmounted at the telescopic cantilever.
 13. The storage shelf systemaccording to claim 12, wherein the telescopic cantilever is comprised ofa base plate, a telescopic frame mounted underneath the base plate, asingle or double telescopic pull-out mounted on the telescopic frame, aseparately moveable transfer unit mounted on the telescopic pull-out,wherein the device for holding a storage rod is mounted on thetelescopic pull-out, further comprising a first drive motor for drivingthe telescopic pull-out and a second drive motor for driving thetransfer unit.
 14. The storage shelf system according to claim 13,further comprising a turntable mounted between the base plate and thetelescopic frame, and a third drive motor for rotating the turntable.15. The storage shelf system according to claim 13, further comprisingcentering plates mounted on both sides of the transfer unit, wherein thecentering plates converge in a downward direction and toward oneanother, and wherein the device for holding a storage rod is mounted onthe centering plates.
 16. The storage shelf system according to claim12, wherein the telescopic cantilever is comprised of a flat telescopicplate configured to travel over the storage rods, and wherein thesupports are gripping members comprised of a hook mechanism or a scissormechanism.
 17. The storage shelf system according to claim 12, whereineach operating device comprises a holding and protecting device forprotecting the hanging goods during travel, wherein the holding andsecuring device further comprises a shutter, a sliding or swinging dooror a protective mesh.
 18. The storage shelf system according to claim12, wherein each operating device comprises at least two telescopiccantilevers.
 19. The storage shelf system according to claim 1, whereineach storage rod comprises a joint, a wire mesh box suspended from thejoint, wherein the wire mesh box comprises storage floors and a foldingdoor.
 20. The storage shelf system according to claim 19, wherein eachoperating device comprises at least two telescopic cantileversconfigured to travel into a position underneath the wire mesh box sothat the wire mesh box is supported on the at least two cantilevers whenthe wire mesh box is transferred onto the trolleys or the storage unitin order to prevent swinging of the wire mesh box.